nibble

data /nib'l/ (US "nybble", by analogy with "bite" -@# "byte")

Half a byte. Since a byte is nearly always eight bits, a

nibble is nearly always four bits (and can therefore be

represented by one hex digit).

Other size nibbles have existed, for example the BBCMicrocomputer disk file system used eleven bit sector numbers

which were described as one byte (eight bits) and a nibble

(three bits).

Compare crumb, tayste, dynner; see also bit, nickle,

deckle.

The spelling "nybble" is uncommon in Commonwealth Hackish as

British orthography suggests the pronunciation /ni:'bl/.

(1997-12-03)